World
Biden urged to ensure COVID-19 vaccines reach LGBTQ people abroad
US bought 500 million Pfizer doses for COVAX initiative
WASHINGTON โ Four Democratic congressmembers have asked President Biden to ensure some of the 500 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine it bought to distribute around the world will reach LGBTQ people that the pandemic has left even more vulnerable.
โWhile we are pleased to see the administrationโs efforts to support global public health, we would like to ensure these vaccines are equitably distributed once they are sent abroad,โ wrote U.S. Reps. Dina Titus (D-Nev.), William Keating (D-Mass.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) in a letter they sent Biden on Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Blade exclusively obtained the letter.
โWe are particularly concerned that the LGBTQI+ community may be unjustly excluded from receiving vaccines in various countries,โ it reads.
The Biden administration last week announced the U.S. will buy 500 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The African Union and 92 countries around the world will receive them through COVAX, a global initiative the World Health Organization co-founded in order to ensure equitable distribution of the vaccine.
The letter notes the pandemic โexposed inequity in health care systems around the world for many marginalized groups, especially the LGBTQI+ community.โ
โDue to stigma, violence, and discrimination, LGBTQI+ people โ and transgender and non-binary individuals, in particular โ face additional barriers to accessing relief and health care services,โ wrote the congressmembers. โIn addition to non-inclusive approaches to distributing relief, unsafe distribution centers and anti-LGBTQI+ sentiments and/or rhetoric of relief workers may also prevent LGBTQI+ individuals from obtaining vaccines.โ
The letter, among other things, notes transgender people in Panama faced discrimination under gender-based regulations the countryโs government implemented to control the pandemicโs spread. The congressmembers also cite Ugandan authorities who charged 19 LGBTQ people with violating coronavirus-related social distancing rules after their April 2020 arrest at a shelter in the countryโs capital of Kampala and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbรกnโs efforts to further restrict LGBTQ rights in his country after lawmakers gave him more power under the guise of combatting the pandemic.
โThese are just a sample of the countless instances where those in the LGBTQI+ community have been unjustly discriminated against because of their gender identity and expression, sexual orientation or whom they love,โ reads the letter. โAs the entire world focuses on trying to return to some normalcy, we must ensure those who have been marginalized are afforded the same opportunities and resources to resume their lives.โ
Biden in February signed a memorandum that committed the U.S. to promoting LGBTQ rights abroad. The congressmembers in their letter notes they โappreciate your long record of promoting LGBTQI+ rights around the world.โ
โWe hope that as the United States finalizes agreements for vaccine donations to countries, your administration will ensure that governments receiving vaccine doses from the United States will equitably distribute them to their residents regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,โ they conclude.
Cameroon
Prominent Cameroonian activist faces terrorism charges
Alice Nkom ordered to appear before National Gendarmerie
A prominent LGBTQ+ activist in Cameroon is facing terrorism charges.
Alice Nkom, a human rights lawyer and board president of Rรฉseau des Dรฉfenseurs des Droits Humains en Afrique Centrale, a group known by the acronym Redhac that translates to Human Rights Defenders Network in Central Africa, on Jan. 2 received a summons from Cameroonโs National Gendarmerie, or national military intelligence.
The summons follows a complaint that Lilian Engoulou, general coordinator of the Observatory for Societal Development, filed.
Engoulou has accused Nkom of attempting to endanger state security, financing terrorism, and funding separatist groups in the northwest and southwest regions of the country that are fighting for independence from Cameroon.
Nkom in recent months has been vocal over the human rights situation in the country, including LGBTQ+ rights.
Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Nji last month suspended Redhac and sealed the organizationโs offices for alleged illegal and exorbitant funding and lack of compliance with government regulations on how NGOs should be run.
Nkom, however, removed the seals. This action prompted authorities in Littoral province where Redhocโs offices are located to issue the summons on Dec. 19 after she did not appear.
Nkom has described the summons as a political witch hunt, stating she doesnโt acknowledge the Observatory for Societal Development. Nkom added she broke the seals because authorities placed them illegally.
โAt the beginning of the year, a new summons, this time issued by the police, at the request of the military court, with accusations of financing terrorism, following the complaint of an association that I ignore from its existence, its leaders, or even the date of its creation,โ she said.
โHuman rights defenders are small, fragile but courageous, against the authoritarian and totalitarian drift of a state,โ added Nkom. โLike the dikes facing the rising tide of injustice, they stand there firm, despite their vulnerability. I am an advocate, a human rights defender, a humanist. Humanity cannot be divided into categories. We are one, all connected by the same dignity.โ
Maurice Kamto, a fierce critic of President Paul Biya who is a lawyer and leads the opposition Cameroon Renaissance Movement political party, said Nkom should not face judicial and political harassment. Kamto offered to represent her pro bono.
โShe is an eminent figure in the public life of our country,โ said Kamto. โShe is fighting many battles. We do not share all these battles, and it is not all her battles that are at issue today.โ
Kamto further described Nkom as โan important voice in the public arena of our country.โ
โIt is therefore, unacceptable that she should be the object of the judicial and political harassment that the authorities are currently inflicting on her,โ said Kamto. โWe cannot stand by and watch this happen.โ
Consensual same-sex sexual relations are criminalized under Section 347 of Cameroonโs penal code with up to five years in prison. A 2010 law states whoever uses electronic communication devices to make โa sexual proposal to a person of the same sexโ faces up to two years in prison.
A number of Cameroonians in recent years have been arrested โ and tortured โ for engaging in same-sex sexual relations.
A Human Rights Watch report notes Cameroonian security forces between February and April 2021 arrested at least 27 people, including a child, for alleged consensual same-sex conduct or gender nonconformity. Some of those arrested were beaten.
Biyaโs daughter, Brenda Biya, last year posted an image to her Instagram page of her kissing her ex-girlfriend, Layyons Valenรงa, and saying her wish was for them to live in peace as a couple. Brenda Biya deleted the post after it sparked controversy in Cameroon.
Nkom is expected to appear before the National Gendarmerie on Jan. 14, which is also her 80th Birthday.
Honduras
Detienen a Romeo Vรกsquez por asesinato de Isy Obed: ยฟcuรกndo pagarรก por Vicky Hernรกndez?
Lรญder trans fue asesinada durante el golpe de estado de 2019
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras โ Casi 16 aรฑos despuรฉs del asesinato de la lรญder trans Vicky Hernรกndez, el general retirado Romeo Vรกsquez Velรกsquez fue capturado hoy como supuesto responsable de la muerte violenta de Isy Obed Murillo durante el golpe de Estado de 2009.
Tras el arresto, la opiniรณn pรบblica ha exigido justicia para Isy Murillo y la activista trans. Ambos fueron las primeras vรญctimas mortales del toque de queda encabezado por Vรกsquez Velรกsquez tras el golpe de Estado contra Manuel Zelaya Rosales en 2009.
La opiniรณn pรบblica se pregunta si de este modo se estรก allanando el camino para que los responsables paguen por el asesinato de Vicky Hernรกndez e Isy Obed.
Junto con el general en retiro, las autoridades capturaron a otros jerarcas de las Fuerzas Armadas.
Estos arrestos, segรบn el Ministerio Pรบblico, se deben a que estos militares comandaron y lideraron el operativo en que soldados abrieron fuego contra manifestantes opuestos al golpe de Estado, el 5 de julio de 2009.
Ese dรญa, cientos de hondureรฑos se aglomeraron cerca del aeropuerto Toncontรญn, en Tegucigalpa, para manifestarse y recibir al presidente Manuel Zelaya Rosales, quien iba a regresar en aviรณn a Honduras.
Sin embargo, el ejรฉrcito impidiรณ la entrada de Zelaya en una acciรณn en la cual matรณ de un balazo en la cabeza al joven Isy Obed Murillo.
ยซNo solo incumplieron su deber de supervisar y controlar a sus subordinados, sino que, con pleno conocimiento de los hechos, permitieron y facilitaron estas atrocidadesยป, dijo el MP en un comunicado.
A travรฉs de sus redes sociales, Romeo Vรกsquez respondiรณ que la acusaciรณn en su contra es un intento del Gobierno de ยซcallarlo a cualquier costoยป.
ยฟPagarรก Romeo por el asesinato de Vicky?
Con la captura de Romeo Vรกsquez, el gobierno de Xiomara Castro parece haber dado un paso firme en busca de justicia para las vรญctimas del golpe de Estado de 2009.
Sin embargo, los arrestos de hoy han recibido tambiรฉn las crรญticas de grupos de la oposiciรณn y crรญticos de la administraciรณn de la presidenta Castro.
Por otro lado, la ciudadanรญa espera que no solo se haga justicia en el caso de Isy Obed Murillo, sino tambiรฉn en el de centenares de vรญctimas durante el mandato del general Romeo Vรกsquez bajo el gobierno de facto de Roberto Micheletti.
Por sobre todo, urge que las capturas de hoy abran la puerta para que las poblaciones LGBTQ+ victimizadas durante el golpe de Estado de hace 16 aรฑos reciban por fin una justicia largamente esperada.
Asรญ, defensoras de los derechos de las diversidades esperan que las acciones de hoy sirvan para reivindicar a activistas como Vicky Hernรกndez, asesinada entre el 28 y 29 de julio de 2009.
โยฟCuรกndo pagarรก Romeo Vรกsquez por el asesinato de Vicky Hernรกndez?โ es la pregunta que se hacen las organizaciones defensoras de derechos humanos de las poblaciones de la diversidad sexual en Honduras.
Segรบn la sentencia de Vicky Hernรกndez vs Honduras, la muerte de Vicky fue una ejecuciรณn extrajudicial cometida entre el 28 de junio y la madrugada del 29 de junio en San Pedro Sula, norte de Honduras.
El asesinato de la lรญder trans se dio en el marco del toque de queda y el golpe de Estado ejecutado por Roberto Micheletti contra Manuel โMelโ Zelaya a travรฉs del jefe de las Fuerzas Armadas, Romeo Vรกsquez Velรกsquez.
โComo representantes de las vรญctimas, exigimos justicia y no olvidar los asesinatos de personas LGBTI+ en el marco del golpe de Estadoโ, afirmรณ Indyra Mendoza de la Red Lรฉsbica Cattrachas.
Asimismo, la Red Lรฉsbica Cattrachas pidiรณ al Ministerio Pรบblico que no olvide la sentencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (Corte IDH) del caso โVicky Hernรกndez vs Hondurasโ, donde se especifica que el asesinato de la lรญder trans fue una ejecuciรณn extrajudicial.
En su sentencia, la Corte constatรณ indicios de participaciรณn de agentes estatales en la violaciรณn del derecho a la vida de Vicky Hernรกndez en un contexto de violencia anti-LGBTQ+.
El Estado reconociรณ en parte su responsabilidad internacional, ya que las autoridades no investigaron con diligencia el homicidio de Vicky. De hecho, segรบn la Corte, las autoridades no consideraron el contexto de discriminaciรณn y violencia policial contra las personas LGBTQ+ y las mujeres trans trabajadoras sexuales.
Asimismo, el Tribunal determinรณ que, al haber sido asesinada y por el marco jurรญdico general de discriminaciรณn, se vulneraron los derechos a no discriminaciรณn y a la identidad de gรฉnero de Vicky. A su vez, el Tribunal encontrรณ que las familiares de Vicky Hernรกndez resultaron afectadas por el sufrimiento que les causรณ su muerte, la permanente discriminaciรณn contra ella y la impunidad del homicidio.
En razรณn de estas violaciones, la Corte ordenรณ diversas medidas de reparaciรณn al Estado. Entre estas demandas estรก promover y continuar las investigaciones sobre el homicidio de Vicky Hernรกndez.
Asรญ reaccionan al arresto de Romeo
Minutos despuรฉs de la captura del general retirado Romeo Vรกsquez para deducirle responsabilidades por la muerte violenta de Isy Obed Murillo, personalidades del ambiente polรญtico y social de Honduras salieron a dar declaraciones al respecto en medios y redes sociales.
El padre Ismael Moreno se halla entre quienes manifestaron su satisfacciรณn por las capturas que hacen vislumbrar un rayo de esperanza a las familiares de las vรญctimas del golpe de 2009. En sus redes sociales, el padre Melo seรฑalรณ que no es posible dejar โen el olvidoโ crรญmenes como el cometido contra Murillo.
โQue la justicia actรบe con firmeza y conforme a debido proceso ante un militar que simboliza unas FF. AA. comprometidas con la impunidad. Ningรบn hecho de violaciรณn a derechos humanos y crรญmenes que vinculan al Estado contra inocentes prescriben ni pueden quedar en el olvidoโ, escribiรณ Melo.
De manera parecida se expresรณ David Murillo, padre del joven asesinado en 2009. ยซNo es persecuciรณn polรญtica, ยกรฉl matรณ a mi hijo, รฉl es el culpable!ยป, afirmรณ el padre de Isy.
#รLTIMAHORA | David Murillo: "No es persecuciรณn polรญtica, ยกรฉl matรณ a mi hijo, รฉl es el culpable!".
En #EXCLUSIVA, el padre de Isy Obed Murillo se pronuncia ante la captura de Romeo Vasquez Velรกzquez pic.twitter.com/Y1gX1j1iMP
โ TSiHonduras (@TSiHonduras) January 5, 2025
Del mismo modo, el abogado Joaquรญn Mejรญa recomendรณ, por su parte, consultar el informe de la Comisiรณn de la Verdad y la Reconciliaciรณn โque establece la responsabilidad de [Vรกsquez] en las graves violaciones a derechos humanos cometidas en el contexto del golpe de Estadoโ.
โSegรบn la Comisiรณn, la โresponsabilidad del general [โฆ] estรก estrechamente ligada a la de Michelettiโโ, publicรณ Mejรญa en sus redes. Ademรกs, afirmรณ que no debe olvidarse la responsabilidad del resto del Estado Mayor Conjunto.
Mientras tanto, la activista Berta Oliva ofreciรณ un testimonio personal al recordar la manera como acompaรฑรณ el dolor โde la madre y el padre de Isy Obed Murillo en su exilio en Argentina y en su romerรญa interminable en Hondurasโ.
Para Oliva, la familia de Murillo ha recibido una โofensa brutalโ con โlos aรฑos de silencioโ alrededor del asesinato.
Entretanto, Gabriela Castellanos, del Consejo Hondureรฑo Anticorrupciรณn (CNA), volviรณ a mostrar por quรฉ la consideran una de las crรญticas mรกs duras del gobierno de Xiomara Castro.
โLa persecuciรณn, la tortura y el asesinato de manera sistematizada de personas por motivos polรญticos en el marco del golpe de Estado en 2009, son hechos indiscutibles que hoy se disfrazan en nombre de la โjusticiaโโ, asegurรณ Castellanos en X.
Jorge Cรกlix: "Si se ha aplicado amnistรญa a otros como Rasel Tomรฉ, el general puede solicitar ampararse en la misma ley". pic.twitter.com/JqjrIl36pw
โ TSiHonduras (@TSiHonduras) January 5, 2025
Otro crรญtico de la acciรณn de hoy del Ministerio Pรบblico, el analista polรญtico Olban Valladares, afirmรณ que la captura de Romeo Vรกsquez significa que el Ministerio Pรบblico โestรก cumpliendo instrucciones polรญticas de los que el pueblo ha identificado como los mandamasesโ.
Segรบn Valladares, no es posible requerir a Vรกsquez porque โno se le ha probado ser ni el hechor material ni el intelectualโ de la muerte violenta de Isy Murillo. Ademรกs criticรณ que Romeo โforma parte de un Estado Mayor Conjunto, una junta de comandantes, y se enfilan los caรฑones contra una sola personaโ.
Entretanto, para el precandidato del Partido Liberal, Salvador Nasralla, medidas como el arresto del exjerarca militar Romeo Vรกsquez โsirven para asustar a la oposiciรณnโ.
โEn el caso de Romeo, lo que tienen que presentar son las pruebas por los que ellos creen que cometiรณโ, agregรณ el presentador de televisiรณn.
Declaraciones del Candidato Presidencial del Partido Liberal Salvador Nasralla sobre la persecuciรณn polรญtica que ha iniciado hoy 5 de enero 2025 el gobierno dictatorial de honduras. pic.twitter.com/sPKp49eXx0
โ Salvador Nasralla (@SalvaPresidente) January 5, 2025
A las voces de la oposiciรณn que se alzaron contra la decisiรณn del MP se uniรณ el Partido Liberal, el cual declarรณ que estรก preocupado por la detenciรณn de Vรกsquez, โcuriosamente avalada por funcionarios del Gobiernoโ.
Ademรกs, demandรณ al Ministerio Pรบblico que respete los derechos de Vรกsquez y pidiรณ โno permitir por ningรบn motivo que se instale en nuestro paรญs una nueva Venezuelaโ.
El Partido Nacional, por su parte, exigiรณ ยซjusticia plena, imparcialยป y no usar las instituciones para vengarse.
La esposa de Romeo Vรกsquez, Lisbeth Zelaya, declarรณ que hace dรญas habรญan amenazado a su esposo con encarcelarlo y que lo capturaron โsin pruebasโ.
Para finalizar, las Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras se manifestaron la noche de hoy por medio de un comunicado sobre โla captura de tres exmiembros de esta instituciรณnโ.
A continuaciรณn, la instituciรณn armada afirmรณ en el boletรญn que condena โtodo golpe de Estadoโ y que rechaza โcualquier acciรณn que implique la violaciรณn de los derechos humanos y las garantรญas constitucionalesโ.
Asimismo, las FF. AA. garantizรณ โque no habrรก mรกs golpes de Estadoโ y que โpor ningรบn motivo las armas confiadas a nuestra instituciรณn serรกn utilizadas para afectar a nuestro puebloโ.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday announced he will resign as the leader of his Liberal Party.
The announcement, which came against the backdrop of growing calls for the embattled prime minister to resign that increased after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who was the countryโs deputy prime minister, stepped down from the government last month, will set the stage for national elections that must take place before Oct. 20.
CNN notes polls show the Liberal Party would lose to the Conservative Party of which anti-LGBTQ+ MP Pierre Poilievre is the leader.
Trudeau became prime minister in 2015 when he defeated then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Trudeauโs father, Pierre Trudeau, was Canadaโs prime minister from 1968-1979 and from 1980-1984.
The younger Trudeau is the first Canadian prime minister to have marched in a Pride parade.
Canada in 2022 banned so-called conversion therapy, which Justin Trudeau described as a โhateful and harmful practice.โ Justin Trudeau in 2017 also formally apologized to Canadians who suffered persecution and discrimination under the countryโs anti-LGBTQ+ laws โ including those convicted of โgross indecencyโ before Canada decriminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations โ and policies
โWe have failed to (protect) LGBTQ2 communities, individuals time and time again,โ he said. โIt is with shame and sorrow and deep regret that the things we have done that I stand here today and say we were wrong, we apologize. I am sorry. We are sorry.โ
World
Out in the World: LGBTQ+ news from Europe, Asia, and Australia
โRuPaulโs Drag Race UKโ winner The Vivienne has died at 32
UNITED KINGDOM
โRuPaulโs Drag Race UKโ winner The Vivienne, born James Lee Williams, has passed away at age 32, their representative Simon Jones says.
In a post on Instagram, Jones announced the starโs passing and requested privacy for Williamsโs family.
โIt is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams โ The Vivienne, has passed away this weekend. James was an incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person. Their family are heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother, and uncle. They are so proud of the wonderful things James achieved in their life and career,โ Jones says.
โWe will not be releasing any further details,โ the statement says.
Williams was born in Wales but grew up in Liverpool, where they started their drag career in the late 2000s. In 2015, RuPaul appointed them โUK Drag Ambassador,โ leading to them competing in and winning the first season of โRuPaulโs Drag Race UKโ in 2019. She returned to the franchise in 2022 for the seventh season of โRuPaulโs Drag Race All Stars,โ tying for seventh place.
The Vivienne also appeared on several other reality competition shows, including the 15th season of ITVโs โDancing on Iceโ and the Christmas edition of โThe Great British Sewing Bee.โ Their final TV appearance was last month on the Christmas edition of the UK game show โBlankety Blank.โ
Beyond the screen, they released their EP โBitch on Heelsโ in 2022, and toured as the Wicked Witch in the 2024 West End revival of โThe Wizard of Oz.โ
Tributes to The Vivienne poured in on social media in the wake of the announcement.โ
โHeartbreaking I donโt know how to say how I feel,โ wrote โDrag Raceโ judge Michelle Visage on Instagram. โMy darling @thevivienne_ we go back to when I started coming over here to the UK. You were always there, always laughing, always giving, always on point. Your laughter, your wit, your talent, your drag. I loved all of it but I loved your friendship most of all. You were a beacon to so many.โ
The death has come as a shock to many.
RUSSIA
Russian clubgoers have been fined for dressing โtoo gayโ as part of the countryโs ongoing crackdown on LGBTQ+ people and expression.
At least seven people were ordered to pay the fines after a raid on a nightclub in Tula, about 120 miles south of Moscow, in February 2024, according to independent Russian media outlet Verstka, which reviewed court documents and video footage of the raid.
Those fined were charged with โtrying to arouse interest in non-traditional sexual relations,โ which is a crime under Russiaโs so-called โLGBT propagandaโ laws. They included a man who wore โcrosses of black tape glued to his nipplesโ and a โwomenโs style corset,โ and another man who wore โpink socksโ and โan unbuttoned kimono.โ
Other offending wardrobe on men included a crop top, black leather shorts, and fishnet stockings.
A judge ruled their clothing was โโinconsistent with the image of a man with traditional sexual orientation,โ and fined the men.
Two of the men were ordered to pay fines of 50,000 rubles (approximately $450). Thatโs a little more than the average monthly salary in Tula, according to Russiaโs official statistics agency, Rosstat.
Russiaโs crackdown on LGBTQ+ people has expanded dramatically over the last several years. The initial propaganda law targeted only expression that could be seen by children, but it was expanded in 2022 to criminalize all forms of LGBTQ+ organization and expression. In 2023, the Russian Supreme Court declared the โinternational LGBT movementโ to be an โextremistโ organization, which was backed up the following year with a decision labeling the โmovementโ to be โterrorist.โ
Verstka reports that at least 131 cases of โLGBT propagandaโ charges were brought to Russian courts in 2024, with fines ranging up to 200,000 rubles (approximately $1,850.)
SINGAPORE
LGBTQ+ activists are crying foul after the Singapore government introduced the islandโs first workplace nondiscrimination bill without any protections for queer workers. The are calling on the government to amend the bill to add prohibitions on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity before it passes into law.
A coalition of activists called SAFE (Supporting, Affirming and Empowering our LGBTQ+ friends and families) published a statement on its Facebook page calling on the government to rethink the bill.
โSAFE and our community partners who have co-signed this statement are resolutely against the billโs exclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics under the bill. We deem it as extremely discriminatory, which runs counter to the objective of the bill which is to address discrimination in the workplace in the first place,โ the statement reads. โOften when parents share with us their fears for their children who have come out to them, discrimination against their queer or trans children rank high on the list. It is thus distressing for our parent community that the exclusions may inadvertently encourage discriminatory and bullying actions towards their children who are LGBTQ+ persons.โ
SAFEโs statement also notes that unfair workplace practices also compound the discrimination that LGBTQ+ people face in other aspects of life, including in housing and education, which contributes to economic precarity.
Singaporeโs Manpower Ministry says the new Workplace Fairness Legislation codifies existing, non binding guidelines on fair employment practices that were introduced in 2007, including prohibiting discrimination based on age, nationality, sex, marital status, pregnancy status, caregiving responsibilities, race, religion, language, disability, and mental health conditions. But those guidelines were issued 15 years before Singapore finally decriminalized homosexuality in 2022.
Singapore is home to one of the largest and most visible LGBTQ+ communities in southeast Asia, and the annual Pink Dot festival attracts thousands of people to celebrate Pride and demand greater rights.
AUSTRALIA
The Palace Hotel in Broken Hill has been officially recognized as an LGBTQ+ landmark for the role it plays in the iconic film โThe Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.โ
In the 1994 film, a trio of drag queens stay at the hotel while driving their bus, the titular Priscilla, from Sydney to Alice Springs in the Outback.
Fans of the film have long flocked to the Palace Hotel โ famous for its many murals โ and the hotel even offers guests the โPriscilla Suiteโ where the characters stayed in the film.
Palace Hill was already listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, but this week Culture Minister Penny Sharpe announced that its listing would be amended to officially recognize the hotelโs significance to the queer community.
โThe interior of the Palace Hotel, with its extensive murals, was a prominent filming location of โThe Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,โโ the new listing reads. โ[The film] introduced LGBTQIA+ themes to mainstream audiences in Australia and internationally. โPriscillaโ represented a monumental shift in cinema of the representation of gay and transgender people in Australia.โ
โThe Palace Hotel has been closely associated with the LGBTQIA+ community and Australian drag artistry since the filmโs release.โ
Sharpe says the new listing honors the hotelโs importance in queer history.
โNow weโre ensuring its significant role in the history of Australiaโs LGBTQIA+ community is officially recognized and celebrated,โ Sharpe wrote in a post on Instagram.
Last year, it was reported in Deadline that a sequel to Priscilla was in the development, with the director and cast attached to return. Itโs not yet known what the plot of the sequel will be, or if the queens will return to the Palace Hotel.
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein marriage equality law takes effect
US embassy praises โcountless individuals who worked tirelessly for equalityโ
A law that extends marriage rights to same-sex couples in Liechtenstein took effect on Wednesday.
Lawmakers in the small European country that borders Switzerland and Austria approved a marriage equality bill in May 2024. Liechtenstein is the last country in which German is the primary language to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples.
Same-sex couples have been able to legally marry in Switzerland and Austria since 2022 and 2019 respectively. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Germany since 2017.
โThis milestone is a testament to the dedication and advocacy of countless individuals who worked tirelessly for equality,โ said the U.S. Embassy in Bern, the Swiss capital, in an X post.
Congratulations to on the enactment of same-sex marriage, effective as of today! This milestone is a testament to the dedication and advocacy of countless individuals who worked tirelessly for equality. Wishing everyone a joyful and inclusive start to the New Year! pic.twitter.com/ZbG5Vd4tOf
โ U.S. Embassy Bern (@USEmbassyBern) January 1, 2025
The Washington Blade in 2022 interviewed Scott Miller, the openly gay U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. He was among those who spoke at Liechtensteinโs first-ever Pride event that took place that year.
โIt will be a discussion that I think activists will have to work on a lot,โ he said, referring to marriage equality efforts in Liechtenstein. โI will support (them) in any way I can.โ
World
Top 10 international LGBTQ news stories of 2024
Pope reaches out, Oct. 7 aftermath, Trump rattles activists
The extension of marriage rights to same-sex couples, anti-LGBTQ crackdowns, war, and elections are among the issues that made headlines around the world over the past year. Here are the top international stories of 2024.
#10 African countries move to criminalize homosexuality
Ghanaian MPs on Feb. 28 passed the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill that would, among other things, criminalize allyship. Outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo did not immediately sign the bill, citing the outcome of a Supreme Court case.
Burkina Faso Justice Minister Edasso Bayala on July 10 announced consensual same-sex sexual acts are illegal in the country. Maliโs Transitional National Council on Oct. 31 adopted a draft penal code that would criminalize acts of homosexuality.
The Dominica High Court of Justice, on the other hand, on April 22 struck down provisions of a law that criminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations in the Caribbean nation. A judge on St. Vincent and the Grenadinesโs top court on Feb. 16 dismissed two cases that challenged the countryโs sodomy laws.
#9 More countries extend marriage rights to same-sex couples
Greece, Liechtenstein, and Estonia in 2024 extended marriage rights to same-sex couples.
Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Sept. 24 approved a marriage equality bill that lawmakers passed earlier in the year. It is slated to take effect on Jan. 22, 2025. Liechtensteinโs marriage equality law will take effect on New Yearโs Day.
The Dutch Supreme Court on July 12 ruled Aruba and Curaรงao must extend marriage rights to same-sex couples. Czech lawmakers in February rejected a marriage equality bill.
#8 Gay, lesbian lawmakers make headlines
Steve Letsike, a lesbian who founded Access Chapter 2, a South African advocacy group, on May 29 won a seat in the South African National Assembly. President Cyril Ramaphosa later named her to his Cabinet.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Jan. 9 named Gabriel Attal as the countryโs first openly gay prime minister. Attal resigned in July after Macronโs party lost its overall majority in the National Assembly.
Then-Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on March 20 announced his resignation. He became the countryโs first gay prime minister in 2017.
#7 Algerian boxer Imane Khelif faces questions over gender at Olympics
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif faced questions over her gender during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Khelif won the Olympic gold medal in the womenโs 66-kilogram competition on Aug. 10. She was born female and does not identify as transgender or intersex. The International Olympic Committee said Khelif โis not a man fighting a woman.โ
Khelif after the games filed a criminal complaint against JK Rowling and Elon Musk with French authorities. The lawsuit claims the two engaged in โacts of aggravated cyber harassment.โ
#6 Mexico bans โconversion therapyโ
The Mexican Senate on April 25 overwhelmingly approved a bill that bans so-called conversion therapy in the country.
The measure passed by a 77-4 vote margin with 15 abstentions. The Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Mexicoโs congress, in March approved the bill that, among other things, would subject conversion therapy practitioners to between two and six years in prison and fines.
Canada, Brazil, Belgium, Germany, France, and New Zealand are among the countries that ban conversion therapy.
#5 Germanyโs Self-Determination Act takes effect
A German law that simplifies the process for transgender or nonbinary people to legally change their name and gender in official documents took effect on Nov. 1.
The countryโs Cabinet on Aug. 21 approved the Gender Self-Determination Act.
#4 Russiaโs anti-LGBTQ crackdown continues
The Russian government in 2024 continued its anti-LGBTQ crackdown.
President Vladimir Putin last month signed a bill that bans the adoption of Russian children in countries where gender transition is legal.
Media reports indicate authorities on Nov. 30 raided three Moscow nightclubs that have hosted LGBTQ-specific events. Authorities in October raided two bars in the Russian capital and in Yekaterinburg. The raids coincided with National Coming Out Day events.
#3 Pope Francis continues outreach to LGBTQ Catholics
Pope Francis in 2024 continued his outreach to LGBTQ Catholics.
The pontiff on Oct. 12 met with a group of transgender and intersex Catholics and LGBTQ allies at the Vatican. Sister Jeannine Gramick, co-founders of New Ways Ministry, a Maryland-based organization that advocates on behalf of LGBTQ Catholics, arranged the meeting that took place at Casa Santa Marta, Francisโs residence in Vatican City.
Clare Byarugaba of Chapter Four Uganda and Rightify Ghana Director Ebenezer Peegah met with Francis at the Vatican on Aug. 14.
Francis earlier this year during an interview with CBS Evening News anchor Norah OโDonnell said priests can bless gays and lesbians who are couples, as opposed to their unions. Francis in a declaration the Vaticanโs Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released on March 25 condemned gender-affirming surgeries and โgender theory.โ
#2 LGBTQ Israelis, Palestinians grapple with Oct. 7 aftermath
The Washington Blade traveled to Israel in October to cover the first anniversary of Oct. 7 and how LGBTQ Israelis and Palestinians continue to grapple with its aftermath.
Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, Pride House of Beโer Sheva, the Aguda, the Israeli Transgender Association, and other Israeli advocacy groups continue to offer access to mental health services, housing programs, and other needs to those directly impacted by Oct. 7.
The Blade interviewed Omer Ohana, who successfully lobbied Israeli lawmakers to amend the countryโs Bereaved Families Law to recognize LGBTQ widows and widowers of fallen Israel Defense Forces soldiers. Hamas militants on Oct. 8, 2023, killed his fiancรฉ, IDF Maj. Sagi Golan, in a kibbutz near the Gaza Strip.
LGBTQ aid workers who have worked with queer Palestinians in Gaza over the last year also spoke with the Blade.
โIt became very apparent to me that everything we did was like pouring water into the desert,โ said Rain Doe Dubilewski of Safebow, which helped more than 300 people evacuate Gaza. โThere was nothing we can offer that is lasting or stable for the Palestinian people.โ
#1 Trump re-election sparks concern among LGBTQ activists around the world
President-elect Donald Trumpโs election in November sparked concern among LGBTQ activists and advocacy groups around the world.
โI worry that Trumpโs win means no protection for global LGBTQ+ human rights,โ Sexual Minorities Uganda Executive Director Frank Mugisha told the Blade.
Esteban Paulรณn, a long-time LGBTQ activist in Argentina who won a seat in the countryโs Congress in 2022, echoed Mugisha. Outright International Executive Director Maria Sjรถdin in an email to their groupโs supporters after the election said the results โhave raised deep concerns for many of us who care about fundamental human rights, freedoms, and democratic norms for LGBTIQ people and everyone else around the world.โ
Trump during his first administration tapped then-U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell to lead an initiative that encouraged countries to decriminalize consensual same-sex sexual relations. Activists with whom the Blade has previously spoken questioned whether this effort had any tangible results.
World
Out in the World: LGBTQ+ news from Asia, Europe, and Canada
Japanese prime minister backs marriage equality without legislative commitment
JAPAN
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told parliament that he believed legalizing same-sex marriage would make the country happier, although he has no plan to bring forward legislation to make that happen.
The remarks, which were echoed days later by Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki, have buoyed the spirits of equal marriage campaigners in the country, despite the governmentโs lack of commitment to progress on the issue.
โCompared to other prime ministers, there is a big difference in Ishibaโs tone, his direction and his outlook and we are clearly getting to the stage for Japan to take the next step in the right direction,โ marriage equality activist Alexander Dmitrenko told This Week in Asia.
Equal marriage advocates have been waging a long battle through both the courts and the political process to win same-sex marriage rights.
Earlier this month, a third appellate court ruled that the ban on same-sex marriage violates the Japanese constitution, finding for the first time that the ban violates the constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness. Five out of six lower courts that have heard cases seeking equal marriage have also ruled for equality.
Elections in October yielded a parliament that has a majority in favor of equal marriage, but is still dominated by the largely conservative Liberal Democratic Party, which has formed a minority government.
While Ishiba says he will not bring forward same-sex marriage legislation and is instead following the progress of cases through the courts for now, it is possible that other parties may try to force the issue by introducing their own bills.
โThe Fukuoka court has clearly said that the Diet must legally permit same-sex marriages in the same way that marriages between people of opposite sexes are recognized,โ Takeharu Kato, one of the lawyers in the equal marriage case that was heard in Sapporo.
โWe intend to continue to put strong pressure on the government to realize these changes because we are confident that we are nearly there.โ
PHILIPPINES
Government workers in the Philippines now have the right to dress according to their gender identity, under a new official dress code issued by the Civil Service Commission issued this month.
The Philippinesโ civil service is known for its strict dress code for government workers. Workers are required to wear specific locally inspired outfits on Mondays and have been required to wear gender-conforming smart casual office attire on other workdays.
Under the revised dress code, workers are freer to dress according to their gender identity, and female workers are freer to wear either skirts or pants. The new code also relaxes standards relating to tattoos, facial piercings, and hairstyles, as long as they donโt interfere with the employeeโs work or with safety standards.
Gender-inclusive dress codes have become a much-debated topic in the Philippines in recent years, particularly in schools and universities, where uniforms and dress codes are often strongly enforced. A growing number of institutions have adopted gender-neutral dress codes and uniforms, while the national government says it is studying creating a standard for gender-inclusive dress codes to promote equality.
In another positive development for LGBTQ+ Filipinos, Globe Telecom, one of the countryโs largest mobile providers, has announced it will provide spousal benefits to same-sex partners of its employees.
Same-sex couples have no legal recognition in the Philippines. A civil union bill has been proposed several times in Congress, but has never advanced.
LITHUANIA
Lithuaniaโs constitutional court struck down an โLGBT Propagandaโ law this week, in a ruling that ought to bring relief to queer activists, publishers, and media outlets.
The โLaw on the Protection of Minors,โ which was passed in 2009, banned the promotion of sexual relations or non-traditional conceptions of marriage or family, and drew sharp criticism from queer and civil liberties groups across Europe. It has been used in attempts to ban Vilnius Pride and led broadcasters to restrict advertisements for queer events and causes.
In one landmark case, government censors used the law to restrict distribution of books of childrenโs stories due to its depiction of two same-sex couples. That decision was eventually appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, which found last year that the law violated the European Conventionโs guarantee of free expression.
Following the ruling, the previous government tried to repeal the law, but after its bill was voted down by parliament, the government filed this legal challenge to the constitutional court.
โFinally, we are normalizing the portrayal and life of our community, and I believe that LGBT youth will live a freer life,โ Vladimiras Simonko, head of the Lithuanian Gay League, told LRT.
The court ruled that the lawโs anti-LGBTQ+ sections were unconstitutional restrictions on free expression, and were also too vague, as they did not define what kinds of information disparage family values.
The court also found that the implications of the law also unfairly narrow the definition of family found in the constitution.
Same-sex couples are not legally recognized in Lithuania. A bill to recognize civil unions was introduced by the previous government but awaits a final vote before it can be brought into law. The current government has not made passing the bill a priority.
CANADA
The province of New Brunswick has finally repealed regulations that required schools to notify parents and receive their consent if a student wishes to use a different name or pronoun in class, following a change in government in October.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association, which had brought a legal challenge against the original policy, hailed the changes.
โWe will discuss with our legal counsel and affected community groups, but expect that these changes will resolve legal issues in our constitutional challenge,โ CCLA Director of Equality Programs Harini Sivalingam told CBC.
The controversial regulation, known as Policy 713, was brought forward by the provinceโs previous Progressive Conservative Party government under former Premier Blaine Higgs. The regulation, which was introduced with limited consultation, led several of Higgsโ Cabinet ministers to resign in protest, and led the charge for provincial conservatives to campaign on anti-trans policies across Canada.
That strategy tended not to work for conservatives. In October, Higgsโs government was voted out in favor of the New Brunswick Liberals under Susan Holt, who had pledged to rescind the policy and ensure schools are welcoming for all LGBTQ+ students.
Similarly, Manitobaโs PC government was voted out in May after pledging to introduce a similar policy, and the British Columbia Conservatives lost their bid to replace the provinceโs NDP government in elections in October.
Still, Saskatchewanโs conservative government won reelection in October after introducing a similar policy earlier in the year, and Albertaโs conservative government just passed some of the most sweeping anti-transgender legislation Canada has seen in quite some time, including bans on classroom discussion of LGBTQ+ issues and participation in gender-appropriate sports.
Albertaโs anti-trans laws have already been challenged in court, but Saskatchewanโs government used a constitutional provision to prevent any legal challenges to its anti-trans laws for five years after an initial loss in court.
But conservative governments in Ontario and Quebec, which had initially announced plans to introduce parent notification and consent rules for trans students, have yet to bring forward such policies or regulations.
India
Harish Iyer continues his fight for LGBTQ+ rights in India
Long-time activist challenged sodomy law, continues marriage equality fight
The Indian LGBTQ+ community has long grappled with systemic neglect and societal prejudices, but significant victories like the striking down of Section 377 in 2018 and progressive Supreme Court verdicts have sparked hope. The fight for equality nevertheless remains arduous.
Amid this struggle, Harish Iyer has stood out as a beacon of courage, leading the movement with unwavering commitment and inspiring others to unapologetically embrace their identities.
Iyer, with a slight smile, noted to the Washington Blade during a recent interview that he was born into privilege. As the first male child in a patriarchal society, he explained this status came with inherent advantages.
Despite being born into privilege, Iyerโs early life was marked by profound challenges.
At just 7-years-old, he endured and survived a traumatic experience of rape, an event that deeply impacted his childhood. Iyer said he was gang raped at 11, four years after a relative sexually assaulted him. Iyer told the Blade these assaults impacted his confidence.
โChildren go through sexual assault but they do not understand what is happening with them,โ said Iyer. โBecause they are children, they do not know its language. We do not call a penis a penis, we do not call a vagina, a vagina. I am 45 years of age, and I am talking about 1987 or 1988. People had very little understanding. When you do not have language to say what it is, you donโt say about it.โ
Iyer said it is easier for girls to talk about sexual assault compared to boys, and as a result it was harder for him to speak out. He also struggled living in two worlds: One of morals and fairy tales, and another filled with hardships that he tried to mask.
โI opened up about my abuse at 18, after 11 years of continuous trauma,โ said Iyer. โThat was a different battle altogether. It was 1998-1999, a time with little awareness about child sexual abuse. When I told my parents, my mother understood that a child could be abused. My father, however, was not supportive and didnโt understand what was happening.โ
Iyer shared how these events shaped his thoughts, values, and empathy for others facing similar challenges.
At 22, he began to understand his sexuality and came out to his parents as gay. At 40, he realized his gender could be fluid and has identified as gender-fluid since then.
Iyer shared his struggles in finding a job as an openly gay man in Indiaโs conservative society. He now works at Axis Bank, one of Indiaโs largest private banks. Iyer said joining the bank was a unique journey โ he did not have any other job opportunities at the time.
โI applied for every job on LinkedIn,โ said Iyer. โAxis Bank responded. I thought Iโd be unhappy there, but I needed the money, so I applied. The process took a long time, but after several interviews, I was selected. During the interviews, I realized I could be myself. People saw me for who I truly am, and that worked wonders.โ
โA week after joining, I started pushing boundaries,โ he added. โThe chief human resources officer called me to her office. After our conversation, she held me close and said, โYou should not have to fit in โ be who you are.โ Within six months, we created a charter with policies for the LGBTQ community. Itโs called โCome As You Are.'โ
Iyer told the Blade that Chief Human Resources Officer Rajkamal Vempati was upset with him.
She felt he was free to express himself at the company, but wasnโt doing so. Iyer said Axis Bank has a dress code policy for employees โ one for men, one for women, and one for LGBTQ+ employees that allows them to choose the gender in which they want to present themselves.
He said he never expected to see such inclusion in a private sector bank in India before joining Axis Bank.
Iyer challenged sodomy law, continues to fight for marriage equality
On the third anniversary of the Supreme Courtโs 2018 ruling that struck down Section 377, the provision of the countryโs penal code that criminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations, Axis Bank in 2021 introduced policies and a charter for the LGBTQ+ community. Iyer, a long-time LGBTQ+ activist, continues to fight for equal rights.
He said Axis Bank became the first private bank in India to specifically welcome customers from the LGBTQ+ community.
โI was invited by the Social Justice Ministry for a consultation on LGBTQ+ rights,โ noted Iyer. โDuring the discussion, it was proposed that all banks in India should open their doors to the LGBTQ+ community.โ
Iyer was one of those who challenging Section 377.
The Supreme Court struck down the colonial-era law on Sept. 6, 2018. Iyer was also a plaintiff in Supriyo v. Union of India, which sought legal recognition of same-sex marriages in India. The Supreme court heard this case in 2023.
โCulture is an evolving phenomenon,โ said Iyer. โIt is not static. As culture evolves, we as people need to evolve. I would like to believe that my organization is always evolving and we will get better.โ
Iyer told the Blade he doesnโt have a specific game plan for the future. As one of Axis Bankโs prominent figures, however, he feels LGBTQ+ people are equal citizens in India.
Nepal
Two transgender women make history in Nepal
Honey Maharjan and Mouni Maharjan ran in local elections last month
November 22 was a milestone for Nepalโs LGBTQ+ community.
Two transgender candidates, Honey Maharjan and Mouni Maharjan, members of the Peopleโs Socialist Party-Nepal, ran in local elections. It marked the first time that trans people ran for office in the country.
Honey Maharjan ran for mayor in Kirtipur, a municipality outside Kathmandu, the Nepalese capital. Mouni Maharjan ran to become a ward chair in the same municipality. Although both candidates lost the election; experts, and activists consider their participation a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in Nepalese politics.
Honey Maharjan, 44, is a former tour guide who faced discrimination because she is a trans woman. Maharjan nevertheless became a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
Mouni Maharjan, 29, advocates for local infrastructure and LGBTQ+-inclusive education. Her campaign focused on introducing an LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum in schools and creating employment opportunities for marginalized groups.
The Supreme Court in 2007 ruled the government must legally recognize a third gender. Six years later, in 2013, Nepal hosted its first-ever Pride parade, signaling growing visibility and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. The countryโs new constitution, which ensures equal rights for LGBTQ+ people and all other Nepalese citizens, took effect in 2015.
The Supreme Court in 2018 issued a ruling that expanded protections for LGBTQ+ people in marriage, inheritance, social recognition, and other areas.
Sunil Babu Pant, founder of the Blue Diamond Society, a Nepalese LGBTQ+ rights group, in 2017 became the first openly gay person elected to parliament. Nepal since 2020 has allowed trans people to legally change their gender in official documents without surgery.
A study that UN Women and the Blue Diamond Society published in June 2023 found 81 percent of LGBTQ+ people in Nepal have faced physical violence, discrimination, and verbal abuse. Traditional societal norms and a lack of awareness make this situation worse.
Nepal is seen as a leader in LGBTQ+ rights in South Asia in terms of legal protections and a debate over marriage rights for same-sex couples. A large gap remains between policies and their implementation.
Political representation of LGBTQ+ people remains low.
Pant left office in 2023. There are currently no openly LGBTQ+ people in parliament or in the countryโs policy-making policies.
During their campaign in Kirtipur, Honey Maharjan and Mouni Maharjan outlined key promises. They pledged to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion, especially in politics, and vowed to fight discrimination in education, healthcare, and employment.
Their campaigns also focused on ensuring equal rights and opportunities for marginalized groups. Honey Maharjan and Mouni Maharjan promised to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ issues to reduce stigma and discrimination in society.
Honey Maharjan told the Washington Blade said she was happy about running for office, and noted her family and friends supported her.
โSince Kirtipur has a large LGBTQ community still they did not come out to support me,โ she said. โNepal has other political parties like Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) and many others, we did not had budget like theirs, so it was also our struggle. It is also challenging for us as people are not supporting us for what we are trying to do. They are supporting only prominent political parties in Nepal. So, these are our challenges as a transgender political candidate in Nepal.โ
Honey Maharjan told the Blade she would have worked to provide education, health care, and better roads if she were elected.
โI did not win, so I am a little sad this time,โ she said. โBut I am happy that the media has covered my campaign, so I am grateful to all journalists.โ
โEvery community member needs to be inspired because we are not alone and we need to think that we have a large number of community members,โ added Honey Maharjan. โIf we do not come out, there will be difficulty, itโs our right.โ
She also dismissed the idea that many trans people are sex workers.
โMany people are working in different sectors. I would request everyone to come out and support the transgender candidate in the next election,โ said Honey Maharjan. โElections are important because it creates awareness about the candidate otherwise everyone would think that transgender community is engaged in sex work only that is not true.โ
Ghana
Ghanaian Supreme Court dismisses challenges to anti-LGBTQ+ bill
Measure would further criminalize homosexuality, penalize allyship
The Ghanaian Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed challenges to a bill that would further criminalize LGBTQ+ people and penalize allyship.
Lawmakers on Feb. 28 approved the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill. Two lawyers, Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky, challenged it.
Outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo had previously said he would not sign the bill into law until the Supreme Court issued its ruling. His successor, President-elect John Dramani Mahama, will take office on Jan. 7.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Dec. 10 honored Ebenezer Peegah, executive director of Rightify Ghana, a Ghanaian LGBTQ+ advocacy group, and six other human rights activists from around the world during a ceremony at the State Department.
Blinken noted the pending Supreme Court ruling โ and discrimination and violence that LGBTQ+ Ghanaians continue to face โ before he presented Peegah with the Secretary of Stateโs Human Rights Defender Award.
โIn Ghana, vigilante groups use social media platforms to organize mobs to attack LGBTQI+ people, as well as to entrap, to blackmail, to harass them,โ said Blinken. โAs these attacks increase, Ghanaโs Supreme Court is considering legislation that would criminalize people for identifying as LGBTQI+, as well as threaten Ghanaiansโ constitutionally protected freedoms of speech, press, and assembly.โ
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